Push-button switch



May 9, 1950 R. A. BECWAR PUSH BUTTON SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April8, 1946 FIG.

IN VEN TOR. Rudolph A. Becwor BY WWW Attorneys y 1950 R. A. BECWAR2,506,987

PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed April 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.Rudolph A. Becwur BY WWW Attorneys Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATassess? TENT ()FFICE rnsn-ccrron-"swrron Application April 8, 1948,Serial No. 660,329

1 5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to switches and in particular to a selflocking push button switch of compact construction.

In the prior art push button switches have been used for manyapplications as, for example, in selecting mechanisms such as are usedon radio receiver sets'for selecting predetermined radio stations. Suchpush button switches have generally been of complicated construction andrequired a considerable amount of space in the control panel or whereverinstalled. Also such switches have been subject to faulty operation dueto critical adjustment of the components and have required frequentservicing to keep the switch assembly in proper operating condition.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improvedself locking push button switch of simple and rugged construction and ofsmall dimensions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple andimproved push button switch assembly having means for looking a pushbutton which has been depressed and for releasing all other push buttonswhen one button is being depressed.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a self lockingpush button switch assembly entirely made up of components which can beconstructed and assembled by production line methods.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a push buttonswitch assembly in w ch the components are rugged and securelypositioned so that they will remain in operation over long periods ofuse without requiring servicing thereof.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a self locking pushbutton switch assembly made entirely of molded members and stamped metalmembers which can be constructed and assembled in a fast and economicalmanner.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of a self lockingpush button switch assembly including two molded insulating membershaving recesses and projections 'therecn for retaining the components ofthe switch assembly in position therebetween without other securingmeans and means for clamping the insulating members together to form arugged switch assembly. I

An additional feature of this invention is the provision of a pushbutton switch assembly having locking means for retaining a push buttonswitch which has been actuated in said actuated position, includingmeans responsive to operation of said push buttons for releasing saidlocking means and causing said switches to be returned to their normalposition.

A still further feature of this invention is the provision of a selflocking push button switch assembly which is compact and requires verylittle space for installation. The dimensions of a specific embodimentof the switch assembly including six switch units. are approximately ofan inch wide, inch thick, and 4 inches long.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent-from a consideration of the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a'view showing the switch installed in a control panel;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of portions of the switch assembly inaccordance with this invention;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the switch assembly showing the componentsof the switch units;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the operation ofthe switch;

Fig. 5 is an end View of one of the actuating members of the switchassembly showing the contact bridging member supported thereon; and

Fig. 6 is a detail View of one of the terminals.

In practicing my invention, I provide an insulating housing formed oftwo parts having r cesses and projections thereon forming a plurality ofcavities inwhich a plurality of switch units are positioned. The switchunits include two contacts and a bridging member therefor which iscontrolled by an actuating member having a portion extending outside thehousing. Locking means are included for cooperating with the actuatingmembers to lock the actuating members which have been depressed, thelocking means being disengaged when a member being depressed to therebyrelease other iembers which are locked. The locking means is alsoreleased when a locked actuating member is further depressed therebyreleasing any other members which are also locked but not disturbing thebridging member of the switch unit which is further depressed and notreleasing this switch. All of the components of the switch units and thelocking means are held in assembled relation and in operative positionin the housing solely by engagement with the recesses and projections ofthe parts or" the housing.

Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. 1 the push button switchassemblyl is'shown installed in a control panel 2 for use with an automobileradio receiver. The control panel also includes a volume control 3, amanual tuning control i and an indicating mechanism for readilyindicating the position of the manual tuning control.

In Figs. 2 and 3 are shown the details of the push button switchassembly consisting of an insulating housing formed of molded membersIii and H which are arranged to be fastened together forming cavitiestherebetween for the components of the switch mechanism. The

switch assembly includes a plurality of switch 4 units, each of whichincludes two contacts l2, a bridging member 53, an actuating member i iand springs l5 and I5 positioned on either side of the bridging member.A looking bar it for cooperating with said actuating members is mountedfor sliding movement between the molded members. The locking bar hasslots [3 therein through which the actuating members i4 extend. Clampsis, and ii are provided for securing the insulating members togetherwith the switch component therebetween forming a, rugged and compactassembly. The clamp !9 has an extension 22 thereon which acts as aspring to hold the locking bar l! in locked position as will behereafter described. Except for the spring 22 on the clamp l9, clamps i9and 2! are of identical construction and are adapted to engage the endsof the molded members, slots Al being provided therein for the clamps.Slots 132 are provided for clamp 253 which holds the center portions ofthe molded members together.

The contacts l2 are held in the assembly in slots 23 and 24 in themolded members iii and ii respectively (Figs. 3 and 6) and includecontacting surface 25, recesses 26 for fitting in the slots and terminalportions 21. The terminal portions in adjacent slots are turned inopposite directions to provide more space for making connection thereto.That is, the two contacts of each switch unit are turned in oppositedirections and the contacts of adjacent switch units are disposed inopposite directions The bridging members It have openings 28 therein inwhich fingers 29 of the actuating members it are positioned. Apunched-out portion 38 of the finger 29 (Fig. 5) limits the movement ofthe bridging member [3 along the finger, but permits movement of thebridging member It between the projection 30 and the stop 3| of theactuating member under the control of the spring I5. recess 32 is formedin the insulating member Ii] for the finger 29 and a similar recess, notshown, is provided in insulating member H. Recesses 33 are provided forthe spring l5 which tends to hold the bridge member l3 away from thecontacts and the actuating member in a normal position with the stop 3!in contact with the shoulder 3% on the molded member It. The bodyportion of the actuating member I4 fits in slots 35 in member l8 and I!and has an opening 36 therein fitting over a projection 31 on the memberii? to maintain the actuating member in proper position between theinsulating member and permit longitudinal movement of the membertherebetween. The actuating member iii has projections 38 and 39 thereonwhich cooperate with locking bar H to retain the actuating member inactuated position and release the actuating member as will be explainedlater.

The operation of the structure will be described in connection with Fig.4. In this figure three switching units are shown but, as is apparent,any number of switching units may be provided in the push button switchassembly according to this invention. The three switching units showncase? in Fig. 2 are designated A, B and C for ease in referring to theseunits. As is previously stated, the actuating members it are positionedbetween the insulating members and are free to move in a verticaldirection as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this figure the switching unit Cis in the normal position in which the spring i5, positioned b tween thebottom of the recess 33 and the bridging member i3, holds the bridgingmember away from the contacts ii. The spring it, positioned between thebridging member is and the 7 body portion of the actuating member 14,holds the actuating member in a normal position. The spring I6 isdesigned to exert a greater force on the bridging member it than thespring l5 and, for example, in a particular structure the spring I 5exerts a pressure of approximately 2 ounces and the spring l6 a pressureof approximately 5 ounces. However, in the normal position, theprojection 36 on the finger 29 of the actuating member prevents thebridging member i3 from being moved into engagement with the contacts 12by the spring IS.

The switch unit 13 is illustrated in actuated position; that is, theactuating member is has been depressed compressing the spring l5, andthe bridging member i3 is held in engagement with the contacts i2 byspring !6. It is noted that when the member It is actuated theprojection 39 is below the bridging member is and the bridging member isnot held thereby but is held firmly against the contacts 12 by springit. As the actuating member it is depressed the projection 38 engagesthe locking bar i? and the slanting lower surface of the projectioncauses the locking bar to move to the right against the action of thespring clip 22 illustrated in Fig. 1. After the projection 38 has passedthrough the slot of the locking member H, the pressure of the spring 22will cause the locking member to slide to the left and engage the upperfiat portion of the projection 38 holding the actuating member inactuated position. When one or more of the switches are in actuatedposition and the actuating members locked in such position by thelooking bar I'i, by depressing an additional actuating member, thelocking bar is moved to the right by engagement of the projection 38 ofthe member being depressed and the actuating members are released andreturned to their normal position by the action of the springs i5 andIt.

For the purpose of releasing the locking bar when more than one of theactuating members are locked in actuated position, an additionalprojection 39 is provided on the actuating member 24 above theprojection 38. This projection is operative to release the locking barI! by depressing an actuating member from the actuated position to afinal position. The switch unit A (Fig. 2) is shown being depressed tothis position with the projection 39 engaging the locking bar I! andmoving the bar to the right. It can be seen that when the member is isdepressed slightly more, the locking bar will be moved to the right bythe action of a projection 3% to such extent that the projection 38 ofswitch unit B will be clear of the locking bar and thisv switch will bereleased. The provision of the projection 39 provides two distinctadvantages in the operation of the structure. The first is that in theevent that all of the actuating members are depressed it will bepossible by moving any one of the actuating members to the finalposition to release all of the other act ating members. The secondadvantage is that aeoaoer the actuated to the final position thebridging member is not moved and remains in engagement with thecontacts.

As has been previously stated, the switch assembly according to theinvention may be provided with any number of switch units desired. In aspecific example of the push button switch in a selective mechanism forradio receivers, six switch units are provided. If a larger number ofswitch units are used, additional clamping members 2% should be providedso that a rugged assembly will be maintained. Openings ii? are shown inthe insulating members to provide means for securing the switch assemblyto a control panel or for mounting the switch in any other desiredlocation. The arms of the actuating members may be long or short and maybe of any desired configuration to permit the use of various types ofactuating push buttons as may be required in a particular application.Fig. 1 illustrates the manner in which the switch may be used in thecontrol panel of an auto mobile radio receiver. It is apparent that theswitch is easily adaptable to any installation desired and that itrequires a very small amount of space.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that a very simple compactself locking push button switch assembly is provided. All of thecomponents of the assembly may be fabricated in an easy manner, that is,molded from plastic insulating material or pressed from thin metalsheets. The components are held in assembled relation solely by therecesses and projections on the insulating members making additionalsecuring means unnecessary. This makes for ease in assembly of the unitand for a very low cost structure. The switch units themselves aredesigned so that the bridging members are held in engagement with thecontact I2 by the relatively strong pressure of the spring !6 assuring afirm and effective electrical contact. The construction of the lockingmechanism is also simple and the action thereof very eifective to retainthe desired switches in actuated position and to release any switcheswhich are not to be actuated.

Although the invention has been described in connection with thepreferred embodiment thereof it is apparent that various modificationsand changes can be made to the strucuture Without departing from theintended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self locking push button switch assembly comprising an insulatinghousing having a plurality of cavities molded therein, a switch unitpositioned in each or said cavities and locking means positioned on saidhousing cooperating with said switch units, each of said switch unitsincluding a pair of contacts fixedly supported by said housing, abridging member for engaging said contacts, an actuating member for saidbridging members having a normal position and an actuated position,first spring means tending to hold said actuated means in Cir saidnormal position with said bridging member away from said contact, secondspring means tending to hold said bridging member in engagement withsaid contacts, and means on said ctuating member to limit movement ofsaid second spring means to thereby prevent movement of said bridgingmember into engagement with said contacts when said actuating member isin said normal position, said second spring means exerting greater forcethan said first spring means to cause said bridging member to firmlyengage said contacts when said actuating member is in said actuatedposition.

2. In a push button switch assembly, a switch unit comprising a pair orfixed contacts, a bridging member for engaging said contacts, anactuating member for said bridging member having a normal position andan actuated position, first spring means tending to hold said bridgingmember away from said contacts, second spring means tending to hold saidbridging member in engagement with said contacts, and means on saidactuating member to limit movement of said second spring means tothereby prevent movement of said bridging member into engagement withsaid contacts when said actuating member is in said normal position,said second spring means exerting greater force on said bridging memberthan said first spring means to move said bridging member into firmengagement with said contacts when said actuating member is in saidactuated position.

3. In a push button switch assembly, a switch unit comprising a pair ofcontacts, a bridging member for engaging said contacts, an actuatingmember for said bridging member having a normal position and an actuatedposition, said bridging member having an opening therein, said actuatingmember having a finger portion extending in said opening in saidbridging member and having a projection thereon limiting the movement ofsaid bridging member on said finger, first spring means engaging saidbridging member on one side thereof tending to hold said bridging memberaway from said contacts, second spring means engaging said bridgingmember on the other side thereof tending to move said bridging member inengagement with said contact, said projection on said actuating memberlimiting movement of said second spring means to thereby preventmovement of said bridging member into engagement with said contacts whensaid actuating movement member is in said normal position, said secondspring means exerting greater force on said bridging member than saidfirst spring means to cause said bridging member to move into engagementwith said contact when said actuating member is in said actuatedposition.

i. A self-locking push button switch assembly comprising an insulatinghousing including two mating parts, a plurality of switch unitsincluding actuating members positioned side by side in said housing andhaving the components thereof retained in position by said mating parts,a locking bar slidably mounted in said housing and cooperating with saidactuating members, said bar having a locking position and a nonlockingposition, and clamp means for holding said mating parts in assembledrelation, said clamp means also cooperating with said locking bar tobias said locking bar to its locking position.

5. A self locking push button switch assembly comprising an insulatinghousing having a plurality of cavities molded therein, a switch unitpositioned in each of said cavities and a lockin member positioned onsaid housing cooperating with said switch units, each of said switchunits including a pair of contacts fixedly supported by said housing, abridging member for engaging said contacts, an actuating member for saidbridging members having a normal position and an actuated position,first spring means tending to hold said actuated means in said normalposition with said bridging member away from said contact, second springmeans tending to hold said bridging member in engagement with saidcontacts, and means on said actuating member to limit movement of saidsecond spring means to thereby prevent movement of said bridging memberinto engagement with said contacts when said actuating member is in saidnormal position, said second spring means exerting greater force thansaid first spring means to 20 cause said bridging member to firmlyengage said contacts when said actuating member is in said actuatedposition, said locking member 00- operating with said actuating membersfor holding an actuating member which has been depressed in suchdepressed condition and effective when one actuating member is beingdepressed to release all other actuating members which are depressed,the maximum dimension of each switch unit transverse of its actuatingmember being substantially equal to the width of said locking member,and the outside dimension of said housing transverse of said actuatingmembers is substantially equal to the width of said locking member andthe thickness of said housing adjacent said locking member.

RUDOLPH A. BECWAR.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,297,996 Bramming Mar. 25, 19191,809,778 Evans June 9, 1931 1,979,588 Vreeland Nov. 6, 1934 2,405,005Anderson July 30, 1946

